I've been considering electric netting from Premier Supplies. I have the charger. The netting is movable. It would be a good solution, but the netting is too expensive for me ATM.
Where I live ,North Granby,Ct. I let my chickens free range . But lately I'm changing my thinking. We have fox,hawks, weasels
and coyotes and I lose a lot. They have a huge run and I'm going to keep them in that but damn that open field, woods
ect. looks good to them and I give in. I need some counseling.
Jay
I've been considering electric netting from Premier Supplies. I have the charger. The netting is movable. It would be a good solution, but the netting is too expensive for me ATM.
Mama Bear
Liz I have considered the PM netting but I'm just not sure how effective it is.
You would need some kind of netting over the top for the haws and I see that as a real pita
In trying to move it.
They are a first class Co. and I talked to a rep. and he said they swore by it.
Maybe this spring,right Now we have about a foot of snow on the ground and some more to come.
Jay
I kept goats confined with it. If it will keep goats in it will keep critters out. You're right about the hawks, though. Covering it would be a real pain.
Mama Bear
I hear ya Jay, I’m frequently tempted to let them out. They rush to the door of the run every time I put the feed in and I do feel bad about cooping them up. Better mad than dead I suppose.
You know Amy you are probably right."better mad then dead" They do have a big run,24 by24 but the problem is it goes from a grassy field to dirt in about 3 weeks. When I open the door they all try to rush out and I have to keep shoving them in while trying to get
the door closed. Sometimes I say the hell with it and just let them go.
Looking into buying the electric fence so I can move it around in the field or woods,Ect but I still have to solve the problem of the hawks.
Jay
I'm afraid that I picked up Sweetie and brought her inside. I simply couldn't do otherwise. Every time I see her she's running from the roosters. I have to think of a better idea. I don't want a hen living in the house unless I can train to use a litter box. That is doubful.
Mama Bear
I had to chuckle with your description of trying to get through the door. This is me every time. It’s comical how I can contort myself while carrying water/ feed buckets while trying to keep Hens from escaping. Soon enough, I too will just say “Go!”
Once that fresh Spring grass starts poking through the snow there will be no stopping them I’m sure.
I used chicken wire galvinzed after welding for sides & top. turkey wire is the best but costs.
Will you just look at this fat thing! Sweetie has decided to live in the fish room. That's fine with me since it's a contrete floor and she has good poop which is easy to pick up. I gave her a bath earlier today. She's so white and fluffy now.
Mama Bear
White and fluffy as newly fallen snow! Now I just have to ask, how do you bathe a chicken? Dawn detergent in the sink? If not for you, she would have been a chicken dinner for somebody a few weeks ago...
Barb
I'm all set up for dog grooming at the house. I put her in my raised tub and used my bathing system to spray warm soapy water on her. In the places where she had scabby skin I rubbed Head & Shoulders shampoo on. It helps to loosen it so it washes down the drain. After the rinse I sprayed on diluted conditioner, then wrapped her in a towel to get as much water as I could off her. After that, I put her in a cage under a cage dryer until she was dry in most places. To finisher her, I put her on the grooming table and used my big stand dryer to dry the places that were still damp and a soft pin brush to separate the feathers at their base.
Back then she wouldn't have made much of a dinner since she was so skinny. She'd make a lovely meal now.
Mama Bear